Saturday, August 16, 2008

The saddest day of our lives...

For a few weeks now, I've noticed Grace has really been bruising.  I emailed her doctor and she told me to come in at some point and check her blood.  On Wednesday, as JR's wonderful siblings came into town, Grace got sick.  She vomited and couldn't get rid of her fever, and I took her in to get checked.  As I was about to leave the appointment, I felt prompted to double check her bruising.  Three hours later, her pediatrician worriedly told me that our daughter more than likely had Leukemia and we would need to immediately get to Dournbecker hospital.  We have since learned that Gracie girl, our precious little five year old, has A.L.L. or Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.  We are devastated by the news, saddened by her pain, and yet hopeful for the future.  We are blessed in that this type of cancer has a high curability rate-at 85% of children being cured from the disease.  We can hardly stand to see her suffer, and we hate how this makes our other kids and our families worry and hurt, but we know there is a reason for this that doesn't yet make sense.  We have great faith that the Lord is directing us and that we will not, for one second of this terrifying journey, be alone.  We have already felt how instrumental God has been in this great plan.  For starters, it is no coincidence that we have moved to Portland, where one of the finest children's hospitals is.  Grace has received a blessing from her sweet, honorable father, and we have all confidence that our prayers will be heard.  Please keep Grace in your prayers...we will need the assistance of angels throughout this experience! -Jr, Kim, Tanner, Grace, and Eva